French far-right leader Marine Le Pen has been found guilty of embezzling EU fund, with the appeal's court sentencing her to a 15-month ineligibility for office and a year with an electronic tag. Technically this would allow her to run for the presidential election, but she has said she would not run with an electronic tag. FRANCE 2''s Catherine Norris-Trent is at the appeal's court in Paris and tells us more.
A French appeal court on Tuesday upheld Marine Le Pen's conviction for embezzling EU funds but shortened her ban on running for public office, in theory giving a path for the far-right leader to run in the 2027 presidential election. The court also sentenced Le Pen to a three-year jail term: two suspended and one with an electronic ankle tag. She is due to give a prime-time TV interview on TF1 at 8pm (1800 GMT), in which she may make an announcement on her political future.
French far -right figurehead Marine Le Pen has been barred from public office for 15 months and sentenced to a year under electronic card after an appeal's course found her guilty of embezzling EU funds. Although this means she could run in the election, Le Pen always said she would not run for office with an electronic tag - meaning her protégé Jordan Bardella is likely to become the far right's presidential candidate. But who exactly is he?
A French appeals court on July 7 upheld Marine Le Pen's conviction for misusing EU funds but shortened her ban on running for elected office. In theory, this potentially re-opens a path for the far-right leader to run in the 2027 presidential race. But Le Pen is also sentenced to wearing an electronic tag for a year. She had said herself she would not run if that were the case. FRANCE 24's Catherine Norris-Trent tells us the latest from the court.
Mikel Merino broke the deadlock in injury time as Spain continue their perfect run with a 1-0 win. Portugal's exit means Cristiano Ronaldo played his final game at the World Cup, as he confirmed he's retiring from international football. Spain will face Belgium next after Rudi Garcia's side thrashed the United States 4-1, this after controversy caused by Donald Trump and FIFA, who reversed a refereeing decision ahead of the game.
The body of the Ukrainian woman suspected of planting a parcel bomb in Monaco last week was found near Kyiv, the local newspaper Ukrainska Pravda reported Tuesday. Ukraine's prosecutor general's office later confirmed the body was found and said they also detained an employee of Ukraine's military intelligence service who said he killed the woman together with another suspect.
Two bomb explosions rocked Syria’s Damascus on Tuesday, close to the hotel where French President Emmanuel Macron was staying as he visited the country. The Élysée palace said Macron was safe, with his motorcade seen leaving the hotel before the explosions.
Tollywood has received one of its biggest announcements of the year as NTR and acclaimed filmmaker Trivikram Srinivas officially reunite for a grand mythological action epic. The prestigious project will be produced under the Haarika & Hassine Creations banner by S. Radha Krishna (Chinababu) and Suryadevara Naga Vamsi. The makers unveiled the project's official announcement along with a striking concept poster carrying the powerful tagline, "The Son of Shiva. The Pride of Parvathi. The Eternal Commander." The poster has gone viral across social media, fueling speculation about the film's storyline and NTR's character. According to industry reports, NTR is expected to portray a powerful divine warrior inspired by Lord Kumaraswamy (Kartikeya/Skanda), the son of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathi, and the commander of the celestial army. The film is said to blend mythology with high-octane action, rich storytelling, and modern commercial elements, making it one of the most ambitious projects in Trivikram's career. Reports also suggest that the makers are considering the title "God of War" for the film, although an official confirmation is still awaited. At present, NTR is busy shooting for his upcoming film Dragon, directed by Prashanth Neel. Once that project is completed, this mythological spectacle is expected to go on floors. The production house is likely to reveal more details, including the first glimpse, cast, and technical crew, in the coming weeks.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei said “the face-to-face negotiations that will be held in the future will not mean accepting the enemy’s point of view.” WASHINGTON : The US on Thursday (Jun 18) lifted its blockade of Iran, and oil tankers began freely moving through the Strait of Hormuz after months of being unable to use the critical channel, as the tentative agreement to end the war took effect. Meanwhile, Vice President JD Vance announced that he may postpone a trip to Switzerland that had been planned for Friday and included a ceremonial signing of the deal. The visit might have helped start talks on the next, potentially even more critical, round of negotiations between the two sides.
Colombia next face DR Congo on Tuesday in Guadalajara after Uzbekistan play Portugal in Houston. MEXICO CITY: Colombia winger Luis Diaz dazzled at a raucous Azteca Stadium as his side marked their return to the World Cup with a 3-1 Group K win over tournament debutants Uzbekistan on Wednesday (Jun 17). Colombia, who missed the 2022 tournament in Qatar, struggled in the early stages but broke through in the 41st minute when a brilliant ball lifted into the area by Diaz was hooked in on the turn by Daniel Munoz, who had ghosted in behind the defence.
Hyderabad: With the aim of strengthening its presence in Telangana, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has intensified its organizational efforts under the guidance of the central leadership. The party is treating the upcoming Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) elections as a crucial political battle, believing that establishing a strong base in Hyderabad will pave the way for success in the next Telangana Assembly elections. As part of this strategy, BJP National President Nitin Nabin is scheduled to visit Telangana for a three-day tour. During his visit, Nitin Nabin will hold a special meeting with GHMC booth-level committee leaders this evening. He is expected to provide guidance on key aspects of election management, booth-level organization, campaign strategy, and candidate selection. Party leaders will also review the shortcomings observed in recent local elections and discuss measures to strengthen the BJP's grassroots network ahead of the upcoming polls. The BJP's immediate objective is to secure victories in the three municipal corporations. The party has already decided to contest the elections independently, without entering into any alliance. Nitin Nabin is expected to advise state leaders to establish a dedicated selection committee to identify strong candidates and ensure that the party fields capable contenders in every division. In addition, the BJP leadership is likely to emphasize the importance of voter list verification, new voter enrollment, booth-level management, and continuous engagement with voters. The party believes that a strong performance in the GHMC elections will significantly enhance its political influence in Telangana and strengthen its prospects of achieving success in the forthcoming Assembly elections.
Hyderabad: Police have solved a theft case involving a 100-gram 24-carat gold biscuit and ₹1 lakh in cash at a villa in Indu Fortune Fields, KPHB Colony. Two sisters employed as housemaids at the residence were arrested for allegedly committing the theft, and the stolen gold biscuit was recovered from their possession. According to police, the case was registered at KPHB Police Station under Crime No. 810/2026. The accused, Konala Ramya and her younger sister Karri Nagalakshmi, were working as domestic helpers and staying at Villa No. 253, where the complainant, Uddagiri Tatarao, was residing as a tenant. The theft occurred on May 19 after the homeowner's wife reportedly left a second-floor wardrobe unlocked in a hurry. The sisters allegedly noticed a 100-gram 24-carat gold biscuit and ₹1 lakh in cash inside the wardrobe. Taking advantage of the situation, they are accused of stealing both the gold and the cash. During interrogation, the accused allegedly admitted to sharing the stolen cash and spending it on personal expenses. They also confessed to hiding the gold biscuit in the room allotted to them inside the villa, intending to sell it at a later date. Acting on credible information, KPHB Police conducted a search on June 30 and detained the two women. The 100-gram gold biscuit was recovered from their room. The arrested accused, Konala Ramya (36) and Karri Nagalakshmi (34), are natives of Chagallu village in West Godavari district and were employed as housemaids in the villa. The case was investigated under the supervision of DCP Ritheeraj (IPS) and ACP E. Ravikiran Reddy. The investigation was carried out by KPHB SHO S. Rajashekar Reddy, DI K.S. Ravi, DSI Abdul Samad, and the KPHB Crime Team. Police officials stated that the officers involved in cracking the case would be commended for their prompt investigation.
